The Five List: Power Ballads that don't suck

The much maligned power ballad. With its roots in "Stairway to Heaven", Kiss' "Beth" and even Styx' "Lady", the slow-building operatic crescendo with the lead singer yowling his passion for some unattainable or absent loved one is a heavy metal staple. With that in mind, here are five slow-build ballads that always ignite my lighter.

1. Tesla-- What You Give (from Psychotic Supper)
   "Love Song" is better-known but this gorgeous Southern-fried epic has real soul and an amazing moment when Tommy Skeoch roars "Whaaat you giiiiive, honey!". Simple and honest, like the best Tesla songs. This is the short single edit.
   
   
2. Queensrÿche--Silent Lucidity(from Empire)
   The boys from Seattle got a lot of grief (and accusations of ripping off Pink Floyd) with this trippy track. Listen for the sonic details in the last verse, including the "collapse" when Geoff Tate sings the line about the walls tumbling down. Also, the cello part on the coda quotes Brahms' "Lullaby".
   
   
3. Savatage--When The Crowds Are Gone" (from Gutter Ballet)
   The song that redefined Savatage and paved the way for their eventual transition and transformation into the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This is a live performance from 2002.
   
   
4. Testament--The Ballad (from Practice What You Preach)
   More of a "thrash ballad" like Metallica's "Fade to Black", this starts with some gorgeous Alex Skolnick picking and builds to a thunderous double-kick climax.
   
   
5. Ozzy Osbourne--Mama I'm Coming Home (from No More Tears
   One of Ozzy's best vocal performances, and Zakk Wylde's playing makes this song soar.